Husband and wife did not say much beyond the improvement in Eliza's health, and how it had affected her spirits and behaviour. Brown had written a letter to Fanny's mistress, Mrs. Lloyd, asking her to let Fanny come home for at least part of the day on Monday; and he took care to post this before he went home again, that he might be sure it would reach its destination by Monday morning.
Then Mrs. Brown took her basket, and went for her marketing, Polly Collins going with her this time, that Mrs. Brown might make the purchases, and Polly carry them home in her own basket. Jessie hoped to be able to do this for herself soon; but at present she was thankful that her father could give her the money for Polly to go and fetch what they wanted. She did not grudge her little sister this small pleasure, much as she would have liked to go herself.
The Sunday passed in pleasant anticipation of another visit from Eliza on the Monday, and talking over with Jack what he would do for the future, for he could not quite make up his mind that his new work would be worth all the book-knowledge he would have to acquire if he wished to go on learning this branch of electrical engineering.
"Careful, thorough work is wanted everywhere," argued Jack, "and I am not like father. A little hard work, more or less, is nothing to me; but, of course, with father it is different, and he isn't fit for hard work now. But somebody must do it."
"Yes; that is true enough," said his father.
"And the question has to be looked at all round. Hard work there must be for everybody, and the choice you have to make now is whether it shall be hands and muscles that shall be set to work, or brains. If you feel the brains are not ready to take up the task, then let it be hands and muscles. And you can be just as proud of a bit of thoroughly honest work in which the strength of arms has been used as the man who has done a clever bit of work by the nimbleness of his brain."
Mrs. Brown still wished Jack would apply himself to his books, and try to overcome his dislike to study; but she was wise enough to leave her husband to argue it out with him. For the present it would make no difference to him, and they went off to work the next morning, Brown's last words being—
"Now, I hope you will have a very happy day with your two girls, mother; and you must write and tell me all about it afterwards."
His wife nodded and smiled. "Look-out for a long letter on Tuesday," she said. And when they were gone she began at once the work of the day.
The girls went to school at the usual time; but about ten o'clock she saw Minnie running in by the back way. She went at once to open the door, for a feeling of anxiety had seized her, and she was afraid something had happened to Selina.